Integrating Plastic-free /Eco-friendly packaging.

Plastic free packaging, a risky yet a worthy journey. Without interrupting our current work flow, can a company that sells fragile and/or irreplaceable art products like plexi face mount, picture frames, original art, and painting achieve plastic free secure packaging? It's risky. A small scratch or a dent, it comes with a cost.

Who am I kidding?  We have seen the tragic outcome of oceans filled in plastic waste and cannot ignore it.

We depend on online retail and today it seems impossible to go without it. An article by Jon Bird noted, "We turn a blind eye to the environmental cost of online retail, particularly when it comes to packaging."

Packing necessary vs unnecessary. 

We have seen it all. Overdoing packaging, adding excessive plastic for protection. Making biodegradable products like food and drinks into waste, due to packaging remaining waste. I mean, it's not fair to call out names because it's everywhere! Perhaps, one can argue what is considered necessary and who determines what is unnecessary packaging? Why don't we have clear restrictions and guidelines for packaging materials? 

Closer look into our packaging. 

Shipping materials that we currently use are bubble wrap, tape with custom branding, shrink wrap, strapping for heavy and large items, shipping clear documentation envelop, address labels, fragile stickers, cardboard sheets, foam corner protection and corner post. Depending on the product being shipped, we use a combination of packaging materials. As of now, we use minimal packaging materials. And for now, exploring Eco-friendly alternative seem like the way to go. 

Apart from that, we also receive materials from various distributors, which contains a ton of packaging materials. 80 % of these packaging materials that we receive are reused or recycled. The rest 20% end up in the waste due to shipping damages. Even if we find an alternative plastic free packaging solution for our shipments, what do we do with the packaging materials that we receive? Now that means we cannot reuse these materials, and that's a waste of materials. 

Alternative Solution Currently available:  

Tape: 

Reusable Kraft Tape, is stronger than masking tape and easy to use. No water or dispenser required. To use it simply unroll and tear by hand.

Shrink Wrap:

Regular plastic takes years to break down, whereas Biolefin by National Shrink Wrap, shrink wrap that will be degraded into biomass within 9 months.

Bubble wrap: 

Corrugated bubble by EcoEnclose, made of 100% recycled cardboard; which is made from post-consumer and post-industrial waste. 

Most importantly, the cost of plastic free, recyclable or biodegradable materials must be an affordable alternative. If the cost exceeds the current material cost, it will affect our business. 

Addressing the root cause.

Most certainly, plastic has it's benefits. For example, "...one-use plastics in the medial sector have made syringes, pill bottles and diagnostic equipment more safe." Perhaps, plastic has been taken for granted. We most certainly have seen it overused, at times when it can be avoided. Likewise, individually packaging products like snacks and beverages. Increasing packaging waste by making products more convenient and accessible without the awareness of environmental damage needs to be addressed. 

Perhaps eliminating the root production of plastic. And having strict standards of regulation as to where and where not to use plastic. This will certainly end the plastic epidemic. If plastic packaging materials are banned, what will happen? Not the end of the world, but it will enforce alternative plastic free solutions. No matter what, distributors and manufacturer will find alternative ways.  

I am sure we aren't the only one trying an alternative solution. Testing our products and seeing if these fragile product will survive shipping, will cost us. But this awareness will reduce plastic waste. 

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KeenART Media Ltd. www.USAOnCanvas.com
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